Birthday Fun!

Sophia really wanted a new piercing for her birthday. Took some convincing but I decided to go ahead and take her. She loves the way it looks!!! 

Once the snow melted she took 2 friends to dinner and back here for dessert. 

 AND...she got her learner's permit!!! Watch out on the roads! :)

The Great Snow!

Who knew the weatherman could get it so right???? They kept saying a big snowstorm was coming but I never thought it would really happen!!!! We got SO much snow. School was cancelled for a whole week. Many people lost power. We were lucky enough to never lose power or water...or have any pipe bursts! It was lots of neighbors helping neighbors. The space heaters were in high demand! 

The kids loved playing in the snow but Ranger was a bit unsure! It was quite a week here in San Antonio....one we will not forget! 

 

15 Years!!

How quickly 15 years go by. I can still hear the doctor saying "it's a girl!!!" and we both asking "really???" Sophia---you bring us so much joy and keep us on our toes. This first year of high school has been a little different...but you have dealt with everything so well. We love watching you grow up and know this year will bring great things!!! 

 First pic of the morning....

Once she was up and dressed! 

Sophia's birthday came in the middle of the great snow of 2021. So...we weren't able to do our usual birthday traditions since literally the whole city was shut down! We tried to make up for it once the snow melted! 

20 years!

Twenty years....what an adventure!! It's so hard to believe that 20 years we stood in front of family and friends and Pastor DeVries said "you may now kiss the bride!!" It's not always easy and we have been through many ups and down. But I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

With Covid still in full swing, we decided to just take a get away trip for the weekend. Maybe later this year we can take a bigger trip. Mike booked a super cute hotel in Brenham. We spent a lot of time just relaxing in the room. Lots of good food. Went to the Bluebell Creamery. And just enjoyed the time alone. 

 

Home Improvements.....

After a few weeks where I was convinced we needed to move to a bigger house...we decided to buckle down and do some home improvements. The front flower beds have been really really sad for a long time. I hired a landscape architect and he did an amazing job! Can't wait to see how it looks when the colorful plants get put in! 

We went from this....

to this.....

 Next step....exterior paint and a new roof! 

Goodbye 2020!!

We went to the ranch after Christmas and stayed for 5 days. It was cold and rainy mots of time but so nice to just relax inside. 

Beautiful sunset from the back porch 

Sunset from the front porch 

Even Ranger finds time to relax at the ranch!

 

Lots of football to watch!! 

Sleeping in the deer blind. 

New Years Eve was rainy and cold. We spent the day inside playing games and watching TV. There was a short game of football before they too cold to stay out. We did make it until midnight!! But then were in bed about 12:05!!

Dad, Julie, Sepp and Katherine came down for an afternoon. We spent lunch and the afternoon at Mary's. It was good to visit. We're not sure the last time all 13 of us were all together. 

The kids and Dad played Newcome outside...even though it was so cold and wet!!

Our annual New Year's Day picture. Same line up every year. The biggest change was Grant this year. He shot up and is almost past Sophia! 

Ranger was SO tired all the way home!!! He was so cute all curled up in the back with Jake. 

 We had a really good time at the ranch even though the weather was mostly cold and wet. It was good to get away and just do nothing. We were all happy to say goodbye to 2020. It's been on of the strangest years ever. There have been a lot of good memories mixed in with all the hard stuff. Praying that 2021 is a bit easier...and maybe at some point we can have a big mask burning party!!!